Ferguson's delight at rout is tempered by injury to Scholes

Manchester United 5 Zalaegerszeg 0 Man Utd win 5-1 on agg

The goals mounted up for Manchester United at Old Trafford last night, but so did the injuries. To add to Roy Keane, who may soon be joining Fabien Barthez, Wes Brown and Gary Neville in recuperation, Nicky Butt failed to make the start of last night's Champions' League qualifier and Paul Scholes did not see the finish. At least Rio Ferdinand finally made his long-awaited bow in a United shirt.

Not that Britain's most expensive footballer had much to do. He, like the rest of Old Trafford, was an impressed spectator as United's offence booked a place in tomorrow's group stage draw in the opening 20 minutes. Goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, David Beckham and Scholes swept aside Zalaegerszeg's 1-0 first-leg advantage as the attacking unit excelled. Thereafter it was simply a matter of entertaining the crowd and avoiding injury.

The first objective was achieved well enough with Van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer adding further goals after Sasa Ilic was harshly dismissed. However, to the chagrin of Sir Alex Ferguson, Scholes, who was in sparkling form, was carried off early in the second half with an ankle problem. The injuries leave United short of cover in several areas and Ferguson said he still hoped to sign reinforcements before the weekend transfer deadline.

That United are still in Europe's premier competition will help both finance and attract any new recruits. Hard though it is to imagine this morning that was far from certain before kick-off. The Manchester Evening News had carried reports of an otter being spotted swimming in the city's once-poisonous River Irwell. At Old Trafford they were more concerned about the equally unexpected gremlin United had encountered by the banks of the Danube a fortnight ago.

With the unthinkable prospect of a season in the demi-monde of the Uefa Cup in prospect, Ferguson had summoned all his available resources. Ferdinand had been rushed from the treatment room to make his competitive debut, Keane asked to drag 90 more minutes from his creaking body and Juan Sebastian Veron recalled in the wake of Butt's pre-match toe injury.

The Hungarian champions, scenting rewards beyond their imagination, had come to defend. Not that they had much choice as United quickly found a silky fluency. With first-time passes rapped out with the speed of a bagatelle, the first-leg deficit was overhauled before those supporters who had got carried away at the megastore tills could reach their seats.

The first goal came after seven minutes, Laurent Blanc, Phil Neville and Keane combined before Scholes' flick released Van Nistelrooy to advance on Ilic and roll the ball inside his left-hand post. In a mirror image of his famous England goal at the Stretford End, Beckham then curled a 15th-minute free-kick inside the top corner in front of the Warwick Road Stand. Five minutes later Beckham crossed and Scholes, riding the luck his performance had earned, stumbled through two challenges before tapping in the third.

The bean-counters breathed more easily, at both ITV's London offices and the Old Trafford directors' box. Although Krisztian Kenesi hit the side netting soon after, then tested Roy Carroll with a free-kick, the game was up for the Hungarians.

"It was a fantastic performance, in the first half in particular," said Ferguson. "We needed to play at pace and the speed of our passing was exceptional."

Thereafter Ferdinand was the focus of attention for United supporters. The England defender had little to do but what he did was done with a cool panache. When he departed, with 22 minutes left, it was to a rousing ovation. "There was a certain amount of risk but he's now had his first game and should be alright for Saturday," said Ferguson.

For the Hungarians the night got only worse as Ilic was ludicrously dismissed after nicking Van Nistelrooy with his boot as he caught a long ball. The Dutchman, who made a meal of that, invited Diego Forlan, still without a goal in 22 appearances, to take the subsequent penalty but Keane appeared to over-rule them. Ferguson approved. "Diego is good enough to score goals, he doesn't need a penalty," said the United manager.

Indeed, Forlan did then "score", but the ball had gone out of play. Solskjaer added a well-taken fifth and United, unlike after the first leg, were happy to swap shirts at the end. It was easier to be magnanimous in victory. Besides, they can now afford a new set.

Manchester United (4-4-2): Carroll; P Neville, Blanc, Ferdinand (O'Shea, 69), Silvestre; Beckham (Forlan, 72), Keane, Veron, Giggs; Scholes (Solskjaer, 50), Van Nistelrooy. Substitutes not used: Williams (gk), Stewart, Chadwick, Tierney.

Zalaegerszeg (3-5-2): Ilic; Csoka, Urban, Budisa; Babati (Turi, 75), Ljubojevic (Farago, 59), Molnar, Vincze (Balog, 63), Szamosi; Egressy, Kenesei. Substitutes not used: Sabo, Kral, Koplarovics, Jozsi.

Referee: L Cortez Batista (Portugal).